Jewell issues order to streamline mitigation

Posted: Monday, Nov 4th, 2013BY: Matthew Manguso

PINEDALE – Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Sally Jewell attended the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. to discuss her conservation agenda and issue her first order as secretary of the interior.

In her speech, Jewell stressed the importance of conserving public lands and national parks for future generations, as well as stating her disappointment in the U.S. Congress and the government shutdown, which she described as “absurd and wasteful” as thousands of employees were furloughed, scientific studies were halted and permits for energy projects were delayed.

“Perhaps the most visible impact of the shutdown was the shuttering of our national parks, wildlife refuges and other public lands,” Jewell said in her speech. “Public servants were forced to do the opposite of what they are trained and love to do: welcome visitors to our public lands.”

It wasn’t just parks, lands and employees that suffered, Jewell said, gateway communities like Pinedale and Jackson lost millions of dollars in visitor spending and seasonal revenue. The National Park System estimated local communities that rely on park and public land visitors lost $76 million, per day, during the 16-day government shutdown.